Vata Dosha Basics

In Ayurveda, there are 3 main body-mind constitution types, or Doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
​If you have taken the Dosha Quiz and you primarily chose (A)'s, your Prakruti (or Birth Nature) Dosha is Vata.
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Vata is comprised of the elements Air & Ether.
Main qualities associated with Vata dosha are: Dry, Cold, Light, Subtle, and Moving.

People of Vata nature are energetic and creative.
They are full of new ideas and vivid imagination. They enjoy moving about, whether it's travel, dancing, jogging, they need to move. They are not ones who like to stay still. Physically, Vata individuals are naturally thin and have difficulty gaining or keeping weight on. They tend to get cold very easily and they have issues with dryness (skin, hair, nails, lips, etc.). Their bowels tend to be dry or hard and they often have issues with constipation, gas and bloating, and cracking of joints. Many also have problems with irregularity of the bone structures, like crooked teeth, scoliosis, or arthritis.

When under stress, Vata types tend to worry or become anxious. Their minds are very active and they can have difficulty calming the mental chatter.
When in balance, Vata people are lively, enthusiastic, and inspiring.

Dietary Tips:
Because of the higher amount of Air & Space qualities in their nature, Vata doshas can gravitate towards light and dry foods. Salads, raw vegetables and fruits, nuts, and popcorn are some examples. These foods can actually aggrevate Vata qualities and create an imbalance in the body and mind. Foods that are warm, heavy, and on the sweeter sides are balancing for Vata doshas. Dishes like oatmeal, soups, cooked vegetables & fruits, are good options for Vata individuals.
Choose foods that are natural and wholesome. Freshly cooked is always a better choice than left-overs, canned foods, or processed foods.
To balance the Vata nature remember to have more of Sweet, Sour, and Salty flavors, and have less of Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent flavors.

Namaste

Learn about the PITTA DOSHA
Learn about the KAPHA DOSHA